Summary

The article outlines common mistakes made by novice fiction writers, emphasizing the importance of embracing rejection, avoiding excuses, limiting adjective use, creating engaging dialogue, maintaining character viewpoint, balancing description, structuring scenes effectively, crafting purposeful conflict, and avoiding predictability and clichés.

Abstract

The web content presents an experienced writer's insights into frequent pitfalls encountered by novices in the realm of fiction writing. It underscores the inevitability of rejection and the necessity of perseverance, cautioning against the trap of procrastination. The article advises writers to be sparing with adjectives, citing Mark Twain's adage to "kill" unnecessary adjectives to maintain clarity and reader engagement. It also suggests that dialogue should serve the story's progression and that writers should remain true to their characters' perspectives. The importance of not over-describing scenes, which can stifle the reader's imagination, is highlighted. The writer stresses the significance of clear scene goals and conflict, ensuring that each scene moves the story forward. Additionally, the article warns against including conflict for its own sake, advocating for meaningful conflict that drives the narrative. It concludes by urging writers to steer clear of predictability and clichés to keep the story fresh and compelling.

Opinions

Rejection is a natural part of a writer's journey and should be embraced as an opportunity for growth.
Procrastination is a common enemy of writers, and establishing a writing routine is crucial for productivity.
Overuse of adjectives can clutter the narrative and detract from the reader's experience.
Dialogue should be purposeful and advance the plot, avoiding unnecessary verbosity.
Maintaining a character's viewpoint helps to keep them believable and relatable.
Descriptions should be balanced, providing enough detail to set the scene without overwhelming the reader.
Each scene should have a clear goal and

Most Common Mistakes for Novice Fiction Writers

Simple rules to navigate the convoluted world of fiction

I’ve learned quickly what works, and doesn’t work in fiction. I know from experience when a project is going well, and when it’s time to kill an idea and start over. I have mastered the art of several novels that forever remain unfinished.

Ideas are an abundance, it’s the writing that’s a challenge

Throughout the years I have recognized common subjective mishaps in fiction writing. I can’t speak for everyone, but after having done a lot of research I’ve noticed a trend that many agree upon.

Expect Rejection

I remember the day I first realized that I wanted to be a writer, and the reality that I could be a writer. The ideas were limitless, time was restrictive, but I knew I would be the next great writer of our time!! Maybe a slight exaggeration, but reality hit and I realized the world was not falling over itself for my great literacy skills.

In other words, I was being rejected, a lot.

After reading more on writing, I learned rejection was part of the path to improvement. I still get rejected, a lot. And that’s okay, because sometimes I don’t and those times are confidence-boosting. I’m still a writer.

Don’t Make Excuses

This one is pretty self-explanatory, and I am queen of procrastination, but It’s a good habit to resist. Treat your writing like a work schedule. Fit it in, and don’t fall prey to self-sabotage.

Way easier said than done….

A good trick is to write down every excuse you can imagine, post it onto your refrigerator, and refer to it each time you feel yourself procrastinating. If you creatively conjure up a new excuse, add it to the list.

Accountability is the most beneficial quality for every writer, novice or professional. Many writers log the number of pages they turn out in a day, and how much time was spent each day writing.

Using Too Many Adjectives

I really mean it too. I love reading memoirs and one of my favorite authors is Jon Krakauer; author of ‘Into Thin Air’ and ‘Into the Wild’. His writing is succinct and direct.

Mark Twain on adjectives;

“don’t let fluff and flowers and verbosity creep in. When you catch an adjective, kill it.”

“They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart.”

Writing with too many adjectives convolutes the mind of the reader and they lose their sense of involvement in the story. Keep your ideas clear and concise.

Creating an Irritating Character with too Much Dialogue

Another technique in succinct writing is learning to avoid drawn-out, extensive, needless dialogue. The objective in writing is to keep the story moving forward otherwise you risk losing your readers.

As a novice writer it’s tempting to fill the pages with speeches and verbiage. A good rule to follow and practice is stimulus and response. Provide your character’s conversation with a purpose and an end goal. Every action your character has, must be preceded by a stimulus, and each stimulus must be followed by a response. This keeps your story moving forward with purpose.

Don’t Forget your Character’s Viewpoint

Keeping in line with your character’s viewpoint is a great way to keep him real. When you describe a setting or ambience, remember that it is experienced through your character. If you need to express a thought or action of another character, ensure that it’s from your original character’s viewpoint.

Don’t Dawdle in the Depths of Description

Setting the mood, ambiance and motivations of the character or novel is important. However, if you overdo the magenta color sunset and warm ocean breeze then you’re risking your reader closing the book. Usually for good. It’s also nice to leave room for the imagination. Your reader doesn’t want to be told everything, they prefer to experience things.

Another reader I that I love for her succinctness is Cheryl Strayed in her bestselling memoir ‘Wild’. It’s one of those books I can read a second time because it is a story I experienced, rather than just read.

Don’t Forget Scene Structure

With each scene in your novel, be sure to convey the goal of the scene. Make sure it is clear and obvious to the reader. If there is going to be a conflict, be sure the logic is clear. Providing a ‘play-by-play’ in the conflict will capture your reader. At the end of the scene ensure that it is wrapped up. This doesn’t mean the conflict has been resolved, otherwise your story would be finished, it just means that this particular scene has ended.

Don’t Create Conflict Without Purpose

Conflict in a story is a necessary beast. It provides a purpose and the direction of the story; it builds character development. Therefore, having conflict without purpose goes against this rule. Having conflict in a story without purpose will take the reader down the wrong path and it will be inundating to bring them back.

Predictability and use of Cliches

In a memoir, sometimes predictability is unavoidable, especially if you already know the story. However, the last thing any author wants is for their hard-earned efforts to be labeled as a predictable story full of cliches. Keep the suspense, keep your reader wanting more but don’t cringe your reader with cliches. Resist, resist, resist.

Writing is an incredible, personal journey. It is one that I love and look forward to each day. I hope these tips in some small way will help you through your journey.

We writers are a collective group and that’s what makes it such a great experience!